THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>
WEATHER REPORTFriday: Showers, hi 53, lo 44
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, hi 65, lo 47
Sunday: Partial sunshine, hi 72, lo 51
Nature nurtures both our physical and artistic instincts. A filmmaker, for instance, looks about and sees Earth as one vast mise-en-scène, its raw materials photographed in endless combinations to suit infinite stories. The Olympia Film Society's third annual Environmental Film Festival, April 20-22, celebrates a few of those stories that carry a unifying message: lean, clean and green, baby. See the Olympia Film Society's website for a list of films.
Born Aramintha Ross, a slave in Maryland in the early 1800s, Harriet Tubman became the courageous rescuer of hundreds of slaves via the Underground Railroad. Tubman's remarkable life of more than 90 years was packed with amazing adventures, bravery against all odds, and unwavering commitment to the freedom and dignity of African Americans. Sometimes called "Moses" or simply "The Conductor," Tubman could neither read nor write but spoke eloquently at numerous anti-slavery and women's rights rallies in the North. Saturday at B2 Gallery in downtown Tacoma, Karol Brown plays an elder Tubman in Sweet Freedom's Jubilee, a performance of Negro spirituals and stories to celebrate the 99th anniversary of this famous abolitionist's death.
Who ever said vinyl is dead? This Saturday is Record Store Day, a day to celebrate music with some of the most anticipated vinyl releases of the year. Record Store Day began in 2008 as a way to attract music fans to dying record stores. Since then it has become a marker day for artists from all over the world to release special edition vinyls, new albums, and rare singles. This year is no exception with new music from live the Black Keys and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, 7" vinyl from Foster the People and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, a limited-run, 180g vinyl from Death Cab and hundreds of other items. Participating stores in the South Sound include Phantom City and Rainy Day in Oly, plus Disc Connection and Rocket Records in Tacoma. For the full roster of swag for sale, visit RecordStoreDay.com. Then show your local disk pushers some love. They deserve it.
There aren't enough places in the world where you can watch Tacoma stalwart sweet pea Flaherty drive a steamroller over stuff while simultaneously creating the art of letterpress. The annual Wayzgoose event at King's Books just happens to be one of them. Already in its eighth year (holy crap!), there's a reason Wayzgoose is on the lips of every artful Tacoman this time of year ... and, frankly, it has a lot to do with sweet pea driving a steamroller. Of course, the collection of letterpressers and book artists Wayzgoose brings together doesn't hurt. Check out Kristin Kendle's feature story on Wayzgoose in the Arts section at weeklyvolcano.com.
CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
Starting this weekend, my life becomes one big La Traviata rehearsal. My wife has also accepted a solo role, with only 10 days to learn it. If I have any spare time whatsoever, I'd love to just sit down and catch up with my Netflix and DVR queues.
MOLLY GILMORE Features writer
I'm going to see Distracted at Olympia Little Theatre and going to the Washington Press Association awards luncheon (because, yes, we Volcano writers are award-winning!).
ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
I'm taking this weekend off from awesomeness.
NIKKI TALOTTA Music Writer
Friday, I'm bartending happy hour, where I will be mixing up the goods and keeping an eye out for another awesome story to add to my Behind Bars collection. Saturday is a toddler birthday party. Sunday is reading, writing and relaxing.
JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Friday night the little toddler and I will be hanging out while the husband is busy getting ready for Artrageous. Saturday morning, the toddler will be hanging out with one of his favorite people and I'll head to a friend's house to spend about four hours writing. Saturday evening the whole family will be heading to Artrageous for the toddler's first fundraiser. We'll head to church on Sunday and hopefully get to go play outside, or nap.
NIC LEONARD Music writer
I am out in Illinois playing shows here this weekend. Also I will be getting drunk and sleeping
JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Friday I'll be teaching my spoken word poetry class starting at 6 p.m. inside The D.A.S.H. Center for the Arts. Call (253) 507-9466 to register or just drop-in! Saturday I'll check-out hip-hop is Alive Part 2 put on by A-Hyp featuring Leezy Soprano, The Sandlot, Chief Noo, hosted by Blak Mic with D.J. Semaj spinning. The Show is at the Harmon Taproom Underground and starts at 9 p.m. and is $5. Sunday I'll probably venture up north to Seattle at The Crocodile to see Katie Kate. It's $10, 8 p.m., all-ages.
STEVE DUNKELBERGER Photographer
Fitting pig town at the Spring Fair and then Footloose at Tacoma Little Theatre and then rounding out the weekend with a trip to The New Frontier to see the Squirt reunion show.
JENNI BORAN Features Writer
Friday will be spent watching my 5-year-old delight in digging a space in our yard to make room for a garden. Saturday and Sunday: heading to a friend's house on Whidbey Island to "meet the baby!"
LINK: Even more local events that we recommend
LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar